Mr. K

Yutaka Katayama
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Charles Child
Automotive News
May 19, 2008 - 12:01 am ET
Yutaka Katayama, the legendary "Mr. K," was an unusual Japanese executive in America who was comfortable in the public eye.

When he arrived in Los Angeles in 1960, Katayama, a marketing guy, happily started appearing with celebrities, race car drivers and actresses to promote Datsun.

Along the way he built Nissan's U.S. foundation of dealers, executives and ad people. He also championed Datsun's signature car, the Z.

Mr. K, now 98 and long retired, lives in Japan and still corresponds with friends in the United States.

In 1971, at the Ontario Motor Speedway, Mr. K poses with driver Dan Gurney.

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Mr. K with Jay Leno.

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Mr. K is an amateur artist. He painted this landscape.

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In 1958, Katayama's team won a race in Australia, a success that propelled him to America.

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You can reach Charles Child at cchild@crain.com.

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